Concrete block and the like



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,648

H. WILKINS CONCRETE BLOCK AND THE LIKE Filed Mar. 50, 1921 l/VVE/VTOR Harry mute Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

YHTED Y ES HENRYWILKINS, OF MELVILLE, JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

CONCRETE. BLOCK AND .THE. LIKE.

Application filed ll'iarchtO, 1921. Serial No e5 6, 8.77.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY lVILKINs, citizen of Johannesburg, residing at 71 Third Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg, Transvaal Province of the Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Concrete Blocks and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in concrete blocks and the like and refers particularly to that type of block which provides for a through cavity in the wall of a building.

A common form of such block is that in which two concrete members are held together parallel to each other, but at a fixed distance apart, by means of metal bars or stri as embedded in the concrete.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the blocks can be held together more rigidly than those at present in use and to simplify and facilitate the construction of a building without the use of any agglomerate at the ends of the blocks, which interlock owing to their shape.

The invention is applicable to all forms of through cavity concrete blocks including blocks for building substantially circular structures.

According to this invention. each concrete member of a through cavity building block has, at each end, an undercut projection of which three faces are continuations of three of the faces of the said member, the undercut portion being inclined to the outer face of the block and the inclination of the undercut portion of one member may be opposite to that of the undercut portion of the other member forming the block so that two consecutive blocks when placed in position are only capable of relative vertical movement in one direction.

The invention is illustrated and more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred form of block is shown, although the invention can be adapted to other shapes of block.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a through cavity block constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan of the block shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an end view of the righthand member of the block shown in Figure 1.

The block consists of theanembersA and B connected to g e thfer. and held in spaced grelation one toitlibthe'r by'rodsgoribars a.

I l, 1 larejprojections formed on the oftheinembe'rs oftlie block a nd extending along the end faces of the blocks at an angle with the vertical, said projections being undercut at 2. The other ends of the members of the blocks are formed with projections 3, 3, these projections being undercut at 4;, so that a. series of blocks will interengage on with another. In order to prevent transverse movement of one block relative to another, the upper and lower faces are provided with grooves and tongues, the tongues 5 fitting in the corresponding grooves in the lower block.

It will be seen that when a block similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is placed in position onthe left of these figures, the said block will not be capable'of downward movement relative to the other block owing to the vertical taper of the projections. This feature increases the rigidity of the structure.

As shown the groove 6 in the member B of the block is a plain groove, while the groove 7 in the block A is undercut. When the groove 7 is employed it is partially filled intimate contact with the undercut portions of the. groove 7 when the upper block is placed in position, thus keying the two blocks together.

In conjunction with the form of lock described, an undercut recess may be formed on the face of a block at the contact line with the next. run the whole length of the block as at 9.

The recesses are filled in with cement or they may be used also to assist in the retention of any dressing which may be applied to the face of the blocks to'improve their appearance. If the blocks are of the ornamental type the recesses on the faeecannot be used and may be dispensed with.

A building constructed of these blocks will have a through cavity throughout its walls both horizontally and vertically and the blocks will be efficiently locked together.

I claim:

1. A through cavity building block consisting of two concrete members held in spaced relation one to the other each concrete member having at each end an undercut projection of which three faces are conwith the liquid cement which is forced into Such undercut recess may tinuations of three of the faces of the member.

2. A through cavity building block consisting of two concrete members held in spaced relation one to the other each concrete member having at each end an undercut projection of which three faces are continuations of three of the faces of the memher and the undercut portion is inclined to all of the said three faces.

3. A through cavity building block consisting of two concrete members held in spaced relation one to the other each concrete member having at each end an undercut projection of which three faces are continuations of three of the faces of the member and the undercut portion is inclined to all of the said three faces, the angle of inclination of the undercut portion of one member being opposite in sense to the angle of inclination of the undercut portion of the other member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY WILKINS. 

